Defense optional in bowl shootout

LOS ALTOS HILLS - The Delta College football team left the fate of the Silicon Valley Bowl in De'Marieya Nelson's hands Saturday.

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By Mark Godi

recordnet.com

By Mark Godi

Posted Nov. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Mark Godi

Posted Nov. 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

LOS ALTOS HILLS - The Delta College football team left the fate of the Silicon Valley Bowl in De'Marieya Nelson's hands Saturday.

The two-time All-Valley Conference running back/tight end plunged behind the right side of the offensive line with 10 seconds remaining against De Anza. He powered through tackles for 13 yards and extended the ball over the goal line to give the Mustangs a 63-56 victory.

Nelson scored two unanswered touchdowns at Foothill College to help the Mustangs recover from an incredible comeback led by De Anza's Josh McCain. Nelson played through a lingering hamstring injury and had 19 carries for 96 yards and three touchdowns.

"I promised the team before the game that I was going to ride until the wheels fall off," Nelson said. "Hurt or not, I wasn't backing down and I'm grateful they trusted me."

Backed inside its own 30-yard line, Delta (8-3) held the Dons (8-3) on two key fourth downs as it went up 14-0. The lead grew to 28-7, until McCain went to work. He was the offensive player of the game, throwing for 347 yards on 26-of-45 passing and four touchdowns. He rushed 16 times for 91 yards and a score.

The Mustangs tried blitzing McCain early until several scrambles out of the pocket turned into big gains. They soon backed off, and McCain picked Delta apart in the gaps. Power back Alfonzo Brister helped him by rushing 31 times for 152 yards and three scores.

"It all started with the run game," McCain said. "The run game opened everything up for me and the whole offense was clicking."

The Dons took their first lead with 9 minutes, 48 seconds left when McCain was flushed from the pocket and broke 30-yards for a score to go up 56-49. The lead held until Nelson tied the game with a 10-yard run up the middle.

The biggest defensive stop of the day followed. Delta defensive end Elijah Saina sacked McCain to force a third down in which McCain narrowly underthrew a receiver downfield. De Anza punted and Delta had 88 yards to go in the final 2:36.

Delta receiver Jack Killian was the game's MVP, catching eight passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker David Holley was the defensive player of the game with 13 tackles, a forced fumble and a sack.

"They fell for our double moves a lot and we were able to beat them deep," Killian said. "But they are a good team. We owe this one to the whole team."

Delta coach Gary Barlow claimed his first Silicon Valley Bowl in three tries, and his team outgained De Anza 602-590. It is also the first back-to-back bowl wins for him in his 12 seasons.

"Sometimes coaches get flustered by giving up this many points or this many yards," Barlow said. "All that matters is that if you score one more than the other guy, you'll be happy at the end."